Effect of Plant Supporting Models and Spraying Rate on Growth of Lettuce in Aeroponics

Abstract

There were 3 experiments in this study i.e. Experiment 1 was the effect of nutrient solution spraying rate and plant-supporting models in aeroponics. Two factors were carried out in the first experiment i.e. Factor 1) two levels of solution spraying rate : a) 1 min/10min (open /close spraying system) b) 1 min/30 min; Factor 2) three of plant supporting models : a) flat type (Model 1), b) triangle type (Model 2), and c) stairway type (Model 3). Plant grown in NFT using as control treatment. Experimental design was factorial in CRD comprised of (2x3)+1 treatments. The result showed that opened solution spraying system for 1 min and closed 10 min gave more fresh weight than the another. Supporting models did not affect to plant height, number of leaves/plant but affect to root length. The second experiment was continuously modified from the first one. There were 2 treatments i.e. 1) solution spray for 1 min/closed 10 min 2) solution sprayed for 30 sec /closed 5 min. The result showed that plant height in treatment 2 was higher than treatment 1, but the number of leaves/plant and root length were not different between treatments. The third experiment studied on the effect of plant supporting models using solution sprayed for 30 sec /closed 5 min. The results found that this spraying rate can be used for all of supporting models, plant height and root length were not different among treatments.